Welcome to Eye Matter Matters issue 16. This is a fortnightly publication where Eye Matter shares news and information about events and activities, members’ experiences and other items of interest. Unless otherwise indicated, all articles have been contributed by Fiona Musgrove. If you would like to contribute an article to a future edition, please email: fiona@eyematter.org.uk
This edition includes:
Eye Matter Zoom events
Eye Matter Outings
• An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto
Special features
- Canterbury to Rome – the walk is now completed
- From Pavarotti to Peppa Pig “It’s who you know not what you know!”
- Life depicted in three stages at the Tate
- Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello
- Unmasking sight loss with Hannah Gibson
- FlowSense Research Project sponsored by Innovate UK- The first session
- Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.
- Braille – 200years on
- Eye Matter Zoom events
Keep up to date with our activities here.
Thank you to Sarah for hosting Bookworms on 30th October, where we discussed “River of Destiny” by Barbara Erskine. This book got a 6 out of 10.
November’s bookworms was moved to Wednesday, 4th December. the book that would be discussed is “The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell. More about this in the next edition. It can still be downloaded or ordered from the RNIB library. To recommend any book from the RNIB library for a future Bookworms, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Bookworms”.
Eye Matter Outings
Please find details of all our events here
Highlights include:
An audio described performance of Robin Hood Panto
At the London Palladium
8 Argyll St, London W1F 7TF
On Thursday 9th January 2025 at 7:30pm
Touch tour and Meet and Greet at Oxford Circus Station timings TBC
Tickets are £25.50.
To buy your ticket(s) for this brilliant theatre experience, please email suzie@eyematter.org.uk with subject “Panto”.
Special features
Canterbury to Rome – the walk is now completed.
Over 2000 miles walked across four countries finally Richard and Fiona entered Rome on Tuesday 19th November.
“It has been a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of sight loss in countries where disability isn’t so prominent and meet so many kind people along our way”, said Fiona. “A huge thanks to the marvellous Richard who held my hand and for those who have supported our adventure.”
Eye Matter is so proud and delighted that Richard and Fiona have completed their 2000 mile walk from Canterbury to Rome. thank you to everyone who has supported them so far and donations are still being gratefully received at the following link:
https://www.ju,stgiving.com/page/eyematter
From Pavarotti to Peppa Pig “It’s who you know not what you know!”.
Back by popular demand on Friday first November, Martin Goldsmith shared some of the greatest stories of things he has seen and people he has worked with in a career spanning 50 years.
Eye Matter members were mesmerised by the colourful stories about recognisable stars and bands, along with his access to some exclusive events. Of course, you had to be there to hear these unbelievable tales!
Life depicted in three stages at the Tate.
On Monday 4th November, Eye Matter members were invited to enjoy a private tour at the Tate Gallery. Thanks to member Vicky Blencowe for the amazing photos and comments.
“Excellent audio described tour at Tate Britain Galleries with Marcus Dickey Horley.”
The members explored three installations by a young modern artist called Alvaro Barrington covering three main areas of his life, starting as a child with his grandmother in Venezuela with a veranda style installation of benches cupboard in plastic with art behind and between. The second installation was Set as a teenager in New York with a cell size shop like building with a red roof and two moving shutters on each end going up and down. This was all encased in a large metal wire cage.
Vicky explained, “Taking centre stage was an amazing statue of his friend Samantha. She was captured sitting on top of a large round installation structure of stainless steel corrugated sheeting surrounded by a dozen sculpted metal basins or drums. There was also a selection of artwork on stretched Hessian fabric depicting his time in Notting Hill based around the carnival and West Africa figures and portraits seen there.”
If you would like to read more and access Vicky’s other photos and videos please join our members only group on Facebook
Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello.
On Tuesday 5th November as part of the Sight Village Tour 2024 Eye Matter took part in Sight Village South East at High Street Kensington Town Hall. Over 50 different exhibitors including MetroBlindSport, VocalEyes, VisionAid, and RNIB joined Eye Matter to provide a range of information for blind and partially sighted people.
Around 1000 people attended the event including parents of visually impaired children , rehabilitation workers,different representatives from other groups such as Illumenate Freedom and of course many of our lovely members who came over to say hello. It was great to meet Lesta Woo who runs our Lindy Hop sessions and Odette who ran our tennis sessions during the summer sports day.
Suzie (Eye Matter’s founder)who has attended previous Sight Villages in Birmingham and Leeds was overwhelmed with the amount of visitors to our stall,
Vicky explained, “Taking centre stage was an amazing statue of his friend Samantha. She was captured sitting on top of a large round installation structure of stainless steel corrugated sheeting surrounded by a dozen sculpted metal basins or drums. There was also a selection of artwork on stretched Hessian fabric depicting his time in Notting Hill based around the carnival and West Africa figures and portraits seen there.”
If you would like to read more and access Vicky’s other photos and videos please join our members only group on FaceBook
Thanks to everyone who came over to say hello.
On Tuesday 5th November as part of the Sight Village Tour 2024 Eye Matter took part in Sight Village Southe East at High Street Kensington Town Hall. Over 50 different exhibitors including MetroBlindSport, VocalEyes, VisionAid, and RNIB joined Eye Matter to provide a range of information for blind and partially sighted people.
Around 1000 people attended the event including parents of visually impaired children , rehabilitation workers,different representatives from other groups such as Illumenate Freedom and of course many of our lovely members who came over to say hello. It was great to meet Lesta Woo who runs our Lindy Hop sessions and Odette who ran our tennis sessions during the summer sports day.
Suzie (Eye Matter’s founder)who has attended previous Sight Villages in Birmingham and Leeds was overwhelmed with the amount of visitors to our stall,
“Eye Matter on tour has gone from strength to strength this year and we believe this helps to highlight how important it is to support the visually impaired community”.
Eye Matters brightly coloured stall was buzzing with excitement, as we signed up over 25 new members along with making new connections with potential members and organisations interested in our work.
If you would like to read more click here:
Unmasking sight loss with Hannah Gibson.
On Friday 8th November our “inspiring Speaker” was Hannah Gibson, a dynamic leader with a deep commitment to helping people and businesses thrive through disability inclusion. From an early age she recognised the need to surround herself with a strong, supportive network after witnessing her father’s struggles in coming to terms with his sight loss conditionRP (retinitis pigmentosa) which she too had inherited.
Hannah referred to this realisation as “unmasking” sight loss, recounting situations when night blindness or her inability to recognise faces caused intense anxiety. She perceived “unmasking” sight loss would expose her vulnerability to her peers, which often led to self deprecating thoughts. However,in spite of this, just like other young women, Hannah was determined to enjoy life through travel, socialising and festivals. Fondly she remembered during one festival whilst struggling to locate her tent in the dark and trying to avoid the hundreds of tent pegs connected to guide ropes, being hauled over a helpful Fireman’s shoulder!
Her new project entitled, “Diverse Integration”, is a model to encourage employers to accept integration of disabled people within their workforce through an holistic approach. Hannah’s years of experience demonstrates that having good inclusion and accessability improves the morale of the workplace and therefore increases productivity.
To read Hannah’s full story click here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0sCMZ9Ns9akr32FjRbDgzzbj7HUW5hFK3pYSs7gswUZ8pwVqTQqnBZuc9mEb5dgUKl&id=100064088379673
Click here to find out more about Hannah’s new project: https://diverseintegration.co.uk/
Hannah Gibson
hannah@diverseintegration.co.uk
07825 226 855
Pip Doleman
07809 609 221
Click here to find out about our other “Inspiring Speakers”: https://eyematter.org.uk/inspiring-speakers/
FlowSense Research Project sponsored by Innovate UK- The first session.
Eye Matter is delighted to be collaborating with Muna Daud, the Founder of “FlowSense”. FlowSense is the world’s first accessible period blood detection device for visually impaired women. The device aims to help women manage and track their menstrual cycles as well as providing information about their general health.
FlowSense is a recently formed company established by a multidisciplinary designer, Muna Daud. The designer developed an experimental prototype device that detects period blood once placed directly on a sanitary pad or underwear. Thus, empowering visually impaired women to independently differentiate between period blood and discharge, and track their cycle. The project aim is to prioritise an intuitive and user-friendly design that indicates the status of the menstrual flow using discrete and accessible methods. While the engineered aspects of this concept are understood, the immediate challenge for Flowsense is to understand the product design and interface challenges associated with the needs of visually impaired women.
This application considers the profound challenge of navigating menstrual health in darkness, where every period is not merely a routine inconvenience but a formidable battle for dignity and independence. Furthermore, these visually impaired women face health risks from pad overuse, such as infections and toxic shock syndrome, and struggle to differentiate between period blood and discharge, exacerbating the constant fear of stains and the stigma surrounding menstruation.
FlowSense shatters these barriers by offering a design concept as the world’s first patentable technology that empowers visually impaired women to manage their menstrual hygiene with an assurance that was previously unattainable. This is more than innovation; it’s a declaration that inclusivity is paramount, affirming that every woman deserves to navigate her menstrual cycle with
The first session on Tuesday 14th November was a hybrid session based in Kings Cross. Here members were able to learn more about this revolutionary product for blind and partially sighted women and how they were at the forefront of its design.
Tasha said, “I had a great time, it was very interesting to be able to participate. I enjoyed learning about FlowSense, as well as listening to everyone’s great questions and comments.”
Rachel Bowdan -Waterson (Eye Matters Secretary Trustee)expressed her delight at being able to handle a range of prototypes .”Muna was so generous in providing different sizes, material types and ways they could be administered. From all of these we were able to discuss the different merits and provide ideas for the next stage of development.”
Although this product is aimed at blind and partially sighted women it has commercial appeal to detect the changes of blood flow to help women understand their own bodies.
“Despite women being 51% of the UK population, discussing their monthly cycles is still a taboo area, yet, within this group, we were able to share anxieties we had held for many years.” Rachel confided.
you can still get involved! We are looking for amazing women of all ages who have regular periods to join us at our next exciting market research opportunity being held at St Pancras Living Centre on Tuesday, 10th December at 11am-1pm.
As a thank you for taking part you will receive a £25 Amazon gift voucher and a complimentary lunch.
For more information and to book your place please contact Suzie:
suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “FlowSense”.
Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.
On Monday 25th November 2024, I joined around 70 of their members for Metroblindsport’s aGM held at the Union Jack Club(Waterloo). Rory Field, MetroBlindSports CEO, spoke about the success of their 46th summer games (which incorporated athletics for visually impaired adults of all ages, a new programme designed to encourage a more gentle introduction into sport and outlined their current range of activities. He then introduced his team including some potential Trustees who hoped to be elected later in the evening.
Along with a range of pilot schemes and special programmes,MetroBlind Sport provides a core range of activities including ; tennis, football, cricket, Goalball, bowls and their yearly skiing trip to Norway. Mike Brace fondly remembered the excitement receiving an invitation for a group of blind people to try skiing for the first time, in Norway, way back in 1974! For many members this continues to be thee highlight on their calendar.
A designated leader, from some of these sports, awarded presentations to an individual who had made an impact or achievement within the group. Jarvid received the trophy for raising awareness of cricket both here and in India alongwith overcoming his own anxieties around sight loss. Linda, a long
As a thank you for taking part you will receive a £25 Amazon gift voucher and a complimentary lunch.
For more information and to book your place please contact Suzie:
suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “FlowSense”.
Reflections from MetroBlindSports AGM.
On Monday 25th November 2024, I joined around 70 of their members for Metroblindsport’s aGM held at the Union Jack Club(Waterloo). Rory Field, MetroBlindSports CEO, spoke about the success of their 46th summer games (which incorporated athletics for visually impaired adults of all ages, a new programme designed to encourage a more gentle introduction into sport and outlined their current range of activities. He then introduced his team including some potential Trustees who hoped to be elected later in the evening.
Along with a range of pilot schemes and special programmes,MetroBlind Sport provides a core range of activities including ; tennis, football, cricket, Goalball, bowls and their yearly skiing trip to Norway. Mike Brace fondly remembered the excitement receiving an invitation for a group of blind people to try skiing for the first time, in Norway, way back in 1974! For many members this continues to be thee highlight on their calendar.
A designated leader, from some of these sports, awarded presentations to an individual who had made an impact or achievement within the group. Jarvid received the trophy for raising awareness of cricket both here and in India alongwith overcoming his own anxieties around sight loss. Linda, a long time volunteer within tennis (particularly on the Wednesday evenings B1 and beginners session) was awarded recognition from Odette. These awards reflected personal achievement rather than just sporting attainment.
Created in 1973 by a group of passionate blind and partially sighted sports enthusiasts MetroBlindSport has celebrated its 50th year and in November 2023 was awarded the Kings Award for voluntary Services, (equivalent to an MBE). Like many other charities MetroBlindSport is conscious of the need to retain funding to run its range of sports programmes and was delighted to receive over £400 from that nights raffle.
If you would like more information about MetroBlind Sport please click here:
If you would like to take part in Eye Matter’s 2025 sports day please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Sportsday”.
Braille – 200years on .
created in the 19th century Louis Braille’s concept of a six digit tactile code continues to unlock opportunities for blind and partially sighted people
On Tuesday 26th November, several members of Eye Matter attended a unique celebration of Braille(kindly hosted by the RNIB) at theBritish Library. The evening provided participants the opportunity to touch different pieces of equipment which included, an early Braille typewriter (1880) and a digital Braille pad. Around 200 people were able to share their personal experiences and attend a presentation in the theatre.
time volunteer within tennis (particularly on the Wednesday evenings B1 and beginners session) was awarded recognition from Odette. These awards reflected personal achievement rather than just sporting attainment.
Created in 1973 by a group of passionate blind and partially sighted sports enthusiasts MetroBlindSport has celebrated its 50th year and in November 2023 was awarded the Kings Award for voluntary Services, (equivalent to an MBE). Like many other charities MetroBlindSport is conscious of the need to retain funding to run its range of sports programmes and was delighted to receive over £400 from that nights raffle.
If you would like more information about MetroBlind Sport please click here:
If you would like to take part in Eye Matter’s 2025 sports day please email: suzie@eyematter.org.uk with the subject “Sportsday”.
Braille – 200years on .
created in the 19th century Louis Braille’s concept of a six digit tactile code continues to unlock opportunities for blind and partially sighted people
On Tuesday 26th November, several members of Eye Matter attended a unique celebration of Braille(kindly hosted by the RNIB) at theBritish Library. The evening provided participants the opportunity to touch different pieces of equipment which included, an early Braille typewriter (1880) and a digital Braille pad. Around 200 people were able to share their personal experiences and attend a presentation in the theatre.
A hybrid presentation was hosted by Dave Williams (RNIB’s Ambassador for Design and Inovation, host on VI Talk- RNIB Connect Radio and founder of the Braillist Foundation) to discuss the myths and nerits of Braille used in 2024. Panellists included Betsy Griffin(an 11 year old author, Emma Tracey a BBC journalist and presenter,,UNESCO ambassador Jane Constance and Lord David Blankett. Jane and Lord Blunkett demonstrated to the audience, the relevance of Braille 200 years after it had been invented. Emma, like David, related its importance in being able to read aloud to her children. David recountered how he kept Braille notes of people’s names in his pocket whilst Jane explained how she had transcribed her 8,0000 word thesis into Braille.
This was the official launch of a years programme which will be touring around the Uk to encourage more people to engage with Braille. The audience agreed with Lord Blunkett’s idea that it should be offered alongside British Sign Language (BSL) currently taught in many schools.
For more information about this event click here:
For information about the Braillist Foundation click here: